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I love Lands' End quality and durability, especially their winter coats, scarves, and mittens. I thought I would share with you this great deal:

Today starts the Lands' End Friends and Family Event. Sept. 22-27 2011 you can save 25% off site-wide and get FREE shipping with your order of $50 or more! Just use Code SAVE25 and Pin 1231. Perfect for fall, winter, and holiday shopping!

You should definitely check out their overstock section where you can already save up to 65%. That with the additional discount and free shipping makes this an even sweeter deal!

And for Twitter fans:

Follow @LandsEndPR between September 22, 2011 and September 27, 2011 and re-tweet the daily Friends & Family sale tweets.

A total of five tweets will be tweeted each day between 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., CST. Each day, one will be selected to win one of six $100 Lands' End Gift cards! Winners will be notified on twitter by Friday, Sept. 30, 2011.

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for this post. I am sharing this because of my love of Lands' End products. Thank you to Mom Select and Lands' End for the information.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

"Shaw seized her by the throat, stopping her air. She wrapped her hands around his wrist and tried in vain to pull him off. Pain roared in her ears; tears flooded her eyes."

pg.186 Ransome's Quest by Kaye Dacus

What are you reading? If you have a teaser, you can head on over to Miz B's blog or share it here by leaving a comment.

Before she succumbs to cancer, the dying wish of Laura Mayfield-Bennett is to be reunited with the daughter she never knew. Unfortunately, that daughter, Katie Lapp, is a member of the Amish order. Katie is about to be married, but uneasy about the path ahead. Now she discovers the secret her parents have kept from her.

The film is based on the celebrated first novel of the best-selling "The Heritage of Lancaster County" book series from author Beverly Lewis. Stars Danielle Panabaker & Sherry Stringfield.

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, is The New York Times bestselling author of more than eighty books. Her stories have been published in eleven languages worldwide. A keen interest in her mother's Plain heritage has inspired Lewis to write many Amish-related novels, beginning with "The Shunning," which has sold more than one million copies. In 2007, Lewis' "The Brethren" was honored with a Christy Award.

Lewis has been interviewed by both national and international media, including Time magazine, the Associated Press, and the BBC. Lewis lives with her husband, David, in Colorado.

My Thoughts:

I have not read the book, so I do not know if the movie closely follows the plot. The movie keeps you wondering through the first half what secret Katie's family has been keeping from her. It flows very well and the acting draws you into the story. After watching this, I think I may go back and read the book!

I read on the Shunning website that this story was inspired by Beverly Lewis' grandmother, who was actually shunned for her choice to marry her husband. The old order Amish way of life is so different from my own, that I find it very fascinating to learn more about their traditions and why they follow certain rules.

I also love the quality and family values of Hallmark movies! The acting can be a little stilted sometimes, but this did not feel that way. I think Danielle Panabaker is a wonderful actress; my only criticism is that her accent went in and out at times. The other actors' accents appeared solid and authentic. I also noticed that the Amish characters were wearing eye-liner and make-up that was a bit distracting, especially since Amish women do not wear make-up. Perhaps they could use make-up that is more subtle to have the actors still appear well on film but not be as obvious and distracting.

I hope that they continue with the story and produce another movie! The ending left me wondering what happens next, and since this is a series of books, I hope that this is popular enough to film the remainder of the series. I really enjoyed getting to know the character of Katie and would like to see where her journey takes her next.

Just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. This contest is open to US residents 18 and older only.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

I don't know about you, but it's been a long week for me. I have been running on low for a few days in a row and am really looking forward to the weekend. The Attic Baby and I turned up some Toby Mac this morning and danced around the living room for a pick-me-up. I thought I'd share it with you in case you need some energizing today.

A three-time Dove Award winner, including the Gospel Music Association’s 2000 New Artist of the Year recipient, and multiple ASCAP Award winner, Ginny Owens has sold nearly one million albums. A top performer on the Christian radio charts with hits like “If You Want Me To,” “Free” and “I Wanna Be Moved,” among others, Owens’ music has impacted mainstream audiences at Lilith Fair, the Sundance Film Festival and the White House. Her music has received widespread film and television placement, including songs on the popular WB series’ “Roswell” and “Felicity.” Owens was featured on national television, including NBC’s “Today” and CNN, for her contribution to help rebuild New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

Born and raised in Jackson, Miss., Owens was discovering melodies on the piano almost before she could complete a sentence. Songs began to emerge from her fingers as the vision began to leave her eyes and by the age of three. A degenerative eye condition left Owens completely blind. Despite her physical challenge, Owens pursued a music career. Songs provide a window into a world Owens can’t see and an outlet for her to express her thoughts and dreams. Owens’ unique musical style and inspirational lyrics continue to appeal to Christian and mainstream audiences alike.

In 2005 Owens launched The Fingerprint Initiative, a hands-on, non-profit organization designed to “bring hope to the world, one project and one touch at a time.” The organization has partnered with and raised money for groups such as Compassion International, International Justice Mission and Habitat for Humanity.

Ginny Owens' new album Get In, I'm Driving releases tomorrow Sept. 13th. I have heard a few of Ginny's songs on the radio, but this is the first full album I've heard. It has a variety of musical styles. I listened to this in the car with my kids on the way to school, and it has an easy-listening feel that is relaxing and thought-provoking with lyrics like "Lay It Down":

"Lay it down,

Everyone’s got a burden;

That’s just part of livin,

So take the one you’re given

And lay it down;

Don’t let it define you,

You’re not strong enough to

Carry that around-

Go ahead and lay it down."

My favorite song is "Daughter of Destiny":

"The winds of change

May blow me round

But never will

They knock me down-

Cause when my faith

Can’t fight the fear,

God calls my name,

And I remember—

As I make my way along this journey,

Wisdom and truth will walk beside me,

I’ve been given purpose and direction,

Oh I am master-minded by the Author of perfection."

Ginny has a beautiful and authentic voice that I think women can relate to no matter where they are in their spiritual journey.

She explains her journey over the past five years and her inspiration behind Get In, I'm Driving:

Just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. This is open to US residents 18 and older only.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.

This has been a long week. Yesterday was especially long. We had a loud thunderstorm and tornado warnings around us at 1 am on and I got maybe 2 hours of sleep. Then I spent over 3 hrs driving in the car with a fussy baby just to get my son back and forth to school due to flooding from all the rain. I managed to sleep last night, but I feel worse today than I did yesterday.

Cooler weather is on the way, and I am looking forward to it! One of my favorite things about cooler weather is being able to dress the Attic Baby in adorable outfits and accessories. And what could be cuter than a baby hat?

About Us

What do you get when you add together a crocheting husband, a stay at home mom, and a growing family? For us, Beanie Designs was the answer!

The beginnings of Beanie Designs

Not many ladies can say their husband taught them to crochet. Well, my wonderful husband took the time to teach me the intricate art of crochet, and I have been addicted ever since.

At first I crocheted to relax. Then I became obsessed with crocheting adorable little hats and blankets for my daughter. Soon I realized the total satisfaction of sharing my one-of-a-kind creations with other mothers, and Beanie Designs was born!

The cutest baby hats, handmade in soft organic cotton

Now we carry a wide selection of adorable baby hats, all handmade with care and exceptionally soft yarns. I have assembled a team of talented artists both here in the U.S. and also in China to keep up with demand for our sweet baby hat designs. They all share my vision: to create the most beautiful baby hats around, each handmade with love and an eye towards quality and perfection.

I am proud that Beanie Designs is also able to help enrich the lives of other stay-at-home-moms who love to knit, both here and in China. Our knitters are primarily work-at-home-moms (and some dads!) who share our devotion to creating sweet baby hat designs. In China, our production is overseen by a husband and wife team from England who are helping bring well-paying jobs to parents who knit at home to support their families. We provide training in our proprietary knitting techniques to help build skills for all our knitters and ensure consistent quality across all our products.

From the dreaming stage of design to the hands-on process of creating the beautiful beanies, every baby hat we offer on this site meets our uncompromising standards for quality of material, aesthetics and comfort in the design, and superior construction.

Crocheting is more than a hobby or even a business to me. It is a passion, and that passion comes across in each special hat I offer you and the way we run our company. I look forwarded to crafting a special hat just for you and your baby, and serving you with respect and integrity.

On behalf of all of us at Beanie Designs, thank you for helping our vision come to life.

Yacine Diop, owner and designer

I chose this beautiful Visor Beanie Hat for this review. It is great for different seasons, and since weather here can vary in the fall from warm to chilly, it is just perfect! It has a cute little visor and a pretty flower accent. I love the fact that it is 100% cotton, machine washable and is soft to the touch. There is nothing like having a hat that is scratchy and uncomfortable; this is nothing like that.

Doesn't she look adorable? This is available in Sizes from 0-3 mos, 3-6 mos, 6-12 mos, 12-24mos, and for older children 2-4 yrs, and 5T-preteen in various colors. I would recommend sizing up a bit, since she is 8 months and is wearing the 12-24 month size hat. They also have a recommended sizing chart.

Where to Buy: You can purchase hats and more on the site Beanie Designs

Just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. This is open to US residents 18 and older only.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free for the purpose of review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. The sponsor is responsible for shipping this prize to the giveaway winner; I will not be held liable for any lost or not received products.

Welcome to my attic!

Thanks for stopping by! I'm a busy former teacher {turned stay at home mom} on the hunt for ways to entertain my 3 kids. I love period dramas, all things Disney, and am passionate about getting kids interested in reading.

I enjoy writing about parenthood, entertainment, travel and local Philadelphia area attractions.

How was your spring break? We have spring fever here, expecting 80 degrees! Thanks for stopping by and checking out all the great g...

Disclosure

The Attic Girl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com.

This means that some posts may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commission when you purchase through these links, which helps us create more great content! Full terms of use here.